...groundhog hunting 204 or 22-250???????

gotta/start/sumwer

gotta/start/sumwer

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Ok guys let me have it.... Encore heavy 204 or ruger m77 mk2 22-250??? I have the 22-250 but my buddy wants to trade his encore 204 i havent shot either one. Whats the best caliber, whats your opinions????
 
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Yeah i like the 22-250 myslef.. thats what i used as a kid but i dont think the 204 was around then, of course it may have been maybe i didnt know about it.. either way the 22-250 def got the job done.. i just wasnt for sure how the ruger 22-250 shoots, guess ill find out 2maro
 
Although I think they have their own separate pros and cons and can/should be used for somewhat specific circumstances, overall I would go with the 22-250.
 
I have each but prefer my 250 over the 204 the 22/250 with the 53 gr Vmax is just heck on groundhogs
 
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I have both. If we're talking groundhogs only with maybe the occasional coyote thrown in, I'd say .204. The ability to see your shots (at least where there's enough dust to see the misses and correct for) is nice; the report is a little less loud also, if noise is an issue around built-up areas.
 
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If noise is an issue, you need something else altogether like a 22 hornet or that new 17 Hornady Hornet that is supposed to be 'coming soon' - a 20gr V-MAX's at 3,650 fps should be plenty for most ground-hog applications.

The 22-250 booms, whereas the 204 has a higher pitched bark that bothers my ears slightly more. Bottom line though, they are both loud, fast, flat and effective 300 yard guns!

When I was deciding this question for myself, I based my decision on several factors. I had shot 2 friends 204's, and I really couldn't stay on target through the recoil with either one, like is advertised. Both 204's also had to be handloaded to shoot really accurately, where I had always heard great things about the inherent accuracy of the 22-250 round and its legend as "king of varminting". (I have another buddy who would tell you the 220 swift is the real king, but that's another story. I wasn't interested in the extra barrel burn that comes with Swifts.)

IF I could have been guaranteed that the 204 I bought would shoot 39's really really well, I might have considered it but with the prospect of wanting to get into coyotes and have a bullet that wouldn't be as susceptible to wind, and where I just wanted more bullet selection as a reloader - yep, I decided to go 22-250, and no regrets! I load a 52gr Berger Match Target hollow point with Varget powder and it just drills. I'm building another 30-40 rounds right now in fact.

Stick with that 22-250. It's a classic!
 
For groundhogs only....

I would go with the 204 but would get it in a bolt action platform not an encore.

So of the two firearms that you asked about I would take the 22-250.

I am NOT an encore fan. others are welcome to have at them if they like them.
 
The 204 Ruger is my round of choice for chucks and PA predators including fox and coyote. I won't make this post a rant about ballistics but comparing these 2 calibers without considering actual projectiles and ballistic coefficients is fruitless. There is countless information on the web highlighting the advantages of the 204.

I own several varmint/predator calibers in bolt action and Encore platforms. Although the Encores are proven shooters, I do not enjoy shooting them prone due to the break-open action. This is not optimal when laying prone.
 
No "Best" caliber between the two (even though my personal preference goes to the .204), but if you are going to do any prone shooting, One Timer has a very valid point on the break open action...For shooting from a bench or sitting position, then it's really what feels good to you...

Unless the Encore has a 22" barrel, you will really lose much of the strong points of the .204...It needs that minimum barrel length to realize the potential..
 
I did the Encore 22-250 once upon a time. While the caliber was okay, single shot chucking wasn't. I like a rifle I can operate prone. Go bolt action, semi-auto, falling block even. I tried to groundhog hunt with a muzzleloader one time from prone. I was quickly educated in the ways of laying down and loading from the muzzle for a follow up shot
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. I think either caliber would be fine in the right platform though.
 
I have both a .204 and a 22-250 ( plus a few others).
I like my 204 for the P dogs. It's just the right caliber.
But the 20 cal. (I have two) is a bit light for chucks.
For chucks, I like a 22-250 or greater.
There have been times I've hit a chuck with my 22-250 and they just crawled off.
Like in this shot...


A 243 or greater will usually stop them like in this video.


.
 
22-250 hands down I have a number of varmit rifels it is the best calaber of all. My go to rifle is a Remington 700 Varmit Special heavy barrel built in 1968, 22-250 cal. 5 rounds down range you can cover them with a dime.
 
It's a little late but if I were dedicating a rifle for varmints I would go with 22-250 or 22-250ai. They are both great round but I really like the ackley. Lots of speed good bc bullets( if you have a fast twist) and not much kick. I can watch hits with my 22-250ai. And its deadly on varmints. I've seen some impressive shots out of a friends 204 but for me its a little light for big 20 plus pound chucks you can find in Virginia.
 
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